Remodeling a sun room can be as simple as adding new color with a little paint or replacing older furniture. For a more drastic transformation, new windows, flooring or wall treatments may be the ticket to an updated conservatory.

Color

A sun room should be bright and cheery. Light or neutral colors will reflect sunlight better than darker choices and help brighten the room on dreary winter days. On sunny summer days, light colors absorb less heat and can help keep the room cooler. Color choices taken from the landscape outside your sun room can bring the two spaces together. Greens, yellows and cream can provide a seamless look and make you forget that you're still indoors.

Organic Elements

Organic elements in a sun room will add a natural touch to your remodeling design. Furniture choices such as wicker, bamboo or unfinished wood connect your room to the outdoors. This concept can also be extended to other elements such as wood window shades, palm frond ceiling fan blades or straw floor mats. Wallpaper that features plants, flowers or animals can add a natural touch to your walls. Aquariums and live plants are another way to add organic elements to your sun room.

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Furnishings

The choice of furniture for your sun room will depend on how you plan to enjoy the space. For use as a semi-alfresco dining room, a natural wood dining set would fit the bill perfectly. Large, overstuffed couches and chairs provide a comfortable place to curl up with your favorite book or enjoy a cup of coffee on a snowy afternoon. Throw rugs can add design accents to a room and provide a soft, warm cushion for your bare feet.

Flooring

For sun rooms that have direct access to the outside, wood, tile or other hard floor options can offer long-term durability. Choices such as bamboo, oak or pine will work well in a sun room. If you prefer tile, stick to hard ceramic tile. It will offer years of enjoyment and is easy to clean. Softer clay tiles, or tiles with texture, will wear faster and are more difficult to keep clean. Carpet can provide a warm, comfortable option for closed-in sun rooms.

Windows and Doors

Sun room windows and doors can be both a design and functional element of the space. Large bay windows can open up the room and provide lots of sunlight. Awning or jalousie windows can be opened to provide airflow on rainy days without allowing rain inside. Double-hung windows allow you to open either the top or bottom pane for different ventilation choices. Installing French or sliding glass doors to your sun room will allow you to open up the room on nice days.

References

Resources

Photo Credits

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About the Author

Jeff O'Kelley is a professional photographer and writer, currently based in the Tampa, Florida area. His images and words have been featured by websites and publications such as CNN, Creative Loafing and Tampa Bay Times. O'Kelley holds associate degrees in telecommunications and website design from St. Petersburg College.